Two men to stand trial for attempted murder of a deputy sheriff

The two men will stand trial for allegedly shooting at a pursuing Mendocino County sheriff's deputy during a February high-speed chase. Judge John Behnke determined during last week's preliminary trial there is sufficient evidence to try Walter Kristopher Miller, 42, of Ukiah and Christopher Skaggs, 30, of Redwood Valley for the attempted murder of a peace officer and other charges.

The judge was shown a dashboard-camera video of Deputy Darren Brewster approaching the 1995 Thunderbird on Talmage Road the night of Feb. 25; stopped for expired tags. Just as Brewster approached the Thunderbird and leaned down to speak with the driver, the Thunderbird raced away.

Skaggs, who was allegedly driving, told investigators, Miller told him to "duck" as the officer was approaching the car and he decided to speed away to avoid a shooting. Tracy Cox, who was Skaggs girlfriend and the other passenger in the Thunderbird, contradicted Skaggs' statement. She told investigators she did not hear Miller say, "duck," but she was aware he had a gun.

Brewster attempted to follow the evading Thunderbird with his own car reaching speeds of 95 mph on S. State St. The chase ended on Highway 253 when someone leaned out of the Thunderbird's passenger window and fired at least five times toward the pursuing patrol car. One of the bullets hit and disabled the car radiator.

Deputy Brewster testified as the shots were being fired the driver of the Thunderbird slowed down and maneuvered it to help the shooter get a better shot at his patrol car.

Miller's lawyer contends Miller was not aiming at the deputy, but was only trying to slow him down.

Law enforcement personnel from Sonoma and Mendocino counties converged on the area, locating the abandoned Thunderbird in a driveway about five miles from the shooting.

In addition to the attempted murder, Miller is facing 13 other felony charges and Skaggs is facing six.

Tiffany Revelle of the Ukiah Daily Journal contributed to this article.